Track/Side: Behind the Scenes of the 2018 NHRA Fall Nationals

These 30 photos show the surprising artistry behind one of the most brutal motorsports on asphalt.

On-track NHRA action is an impressive spectacle, but there's much more to it than the few seconds of thunder it takes to blast through a quarter-mile. The Drive spent some extra time trackside at the series' recent Fall Nationals event, in the paddock and staging lanes, capturing the lesser seen sights and details of a race weekend with the traveling drag racer circus. Here's a look into the hard work and elbow grease it takes to prepare and maintain those 10,000-horsepower machines, along with a few others—just for fun.